There’s A New Snack In Town Greenwood!
Simply 7 Snacks is a new product line entering the Indianapolis area and they are interested in what Greenwood residents think about their unconventional healthy chips. Healthy Chips?! Yes, it seems to be an oxymoron, but the health food industry is always looking to create an alternative healthy snack with the familiarity of the traditional, such as chips.
Today potato and corn chips are not the only choice you have when your palate craves salty and crunchy. There is now a variety of chips with less fat and calories made with quinoa, lentils, hummus, blue corn, multi grains and kale; and a variety of root vegetable chips such as beets, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and so on.
Snack Attack
Now the act of snacking has a bad reputation. However, studies have shown a well-chosen snack can help you stay focused, feel energized, manage weight loss and prevent binge eating at mealtime.
According to the research, you want a snack that includes some carbohydrates, fiber, protein and a little healthy fat (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated). Combine your snack foods to reach at least 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Calories should be around 100-250 cal. Some examples are: regular fat cheese sticks, multigrain bread, nuts, oatmeal, natural peanut or almond butter, plain Greek yogurt, fresh fruits and veggies.
With these healthy choices in mind, you can snack about two to three times a day: midmorning, midafternoon and contrary to the myth, it is OK for a (sensible) late evening snack. Mindless snacking all evening is what packs on the pounds.
The Chips Are On the Table
The snacks mentioned above are your best choice, but sometimes you need to satisfy a chip craving. A handful of healthier chips eaten with an apple or a cheese stick can bring “balance” to the snack craving “force.”
I have recruited some Greenwood residence to try a variety of healthy chips including the new Simple 7 Snacks. These alternative chips have less fat than regular potato chips, but are also gluten-free, organic and/or non-GMO, have lower salt, no trans-fat, artificial coloring or preservatives. This is what I found:
– Simple 7 Snacks: Quinoa, Lentil and hummus Sea Salt Chips (Ranges: fat 5-6g, protein 3-8g, fiber 1g or less).
– Hummus took the lead out of these three flavors. The tasters felt the hummus chips had the best flavor, were crunchy and satisfying.
– Quinoa Chips had a good consistency but the flavor was not as satisfying.
– Lentil chips had a good crunch, but were a bit bland, and most did not like the texture.
The Real Deal Veggie Chips: made with green peas, corn meal and rice (fat 2.5g, protein-4g, fiber 1g).
– Mixed reviews, some like them some didn’t. The pea taste is very light with a hint of nutty after taste.
Popchips: Potato, rice flour and sunflower chips. They are not fried or baked but heated in a pressurized chamber (fat 4g, protein 2g, fiber 1g). All agreed these chips had a great potato crunchy taste, very light and not greasy. And most liked the texture.
Terra Chips, Multigrain Chips, Blue Corn Chips: (Ranges: fat 7-9g, protein 1-2g, fiber 2g).
– Terra Chips: a mixture of root vegetable such as balata, taro, parsnip, ruby taro, carrot and sweet potato. This is a very colorful exotic mixture with a sweet earthy flavor and a big, satisfying crunch.
– Multigrain Chips: made with quinoa, flaxseed, sunflower, brown rice and sesame flour. Wonderful grainy taste. Have substance and satisfying.
– Blue Corn Chips: Mediocre response. Not as powerful on the taste but are lower carb than regular corn chips.
Where the Chips Lie
Overall, the panel agrees if you are in the mood for something light and airy then the Simple 7 Snacks, The Real Deal Veggie or Popchips is a good choice. If you crave for a chip with more substance, than the Multigrain, Terra or Blue Corn chips is your best bet.
Of course, the best foods to snack on are fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. Nevertheless, because we all crave for something salty and crunchy, it is nice to have an alternative with less fat and calories.
